2012-2013 Menlo School Student & Parent Handbook

 

Daily Hours and Attendance

Regular Hours
School hours are from 7:50 am to 3:15 pm. The campus will be supervised from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Parents should pick up their children either at the end of the school day or at the Library after 4:00 pm, unless their child is participating in a school-sponsored activity. Students are to be in the Library only if they are involved in quiet work, such as homework, required by the School. Please note that this is not an after-school program, and the librarian is there as an academic resource for students. Middle School students must be picked up by 5:30 pm.

Special Assembly Schedule
A special assembly schedule is followed whenever an invited guest or a school performance requires a time period longer than the regular schedule allows. When this occurs, students will attend 40-minute classes for the duration of the day with an hour allotted for a special assembly or occasion.

Reporting Tardies or Absences
Students who are late to first period should report to the Middle School Office for an "admit slip." In the event of illness or other absence, the student's parents should notify the Middle School Office (330.2001 ext. 2400) or leave a message on the voice mail before 8:15 am each day that the student will be out of school.

 

Academics

Grade-Level Teams and Team Leaders
The teachers (English, History, Math and Science) of each grade are organized into grade-level teams led by a team leader. Grade-level teams monitor the progress of every student in the grade and work together to integrate and coordinate all areas of the core curriculum. The grade team will handle parent communication if a student is having difficulty in more than one class. Foreign Language teachers and Creative Arts teachers are organized into academic discipline teams. All teams meet regularly, facilitated by a team leader.

Department Chairs
The department chairs of each discipline organize and facilitate meetings of the department, monitor sequence of skills from one grade to the next, act as a liaison with the Upper School, and stay updated on advancements in their fields.

Grading
Grades reflect each student's effort and achievement and are based upon quizzes, tests, classroom participation, homework, comprehensive exams and any other performance standards that a teacher considers relevant. Teachers explain their grading policy in their course descriptions and at Back to School Night. Report cards are mailed home quarterly. Parent conferences are scheduled during the second quarter and student-led conferences are scheduled during the fourth quarter. Written comments accompany the semester reports biannually. Creative Arts teachers write comments after the first, second and third quarters.

Homework Policy
The Middle School believes that homework should be meaningful and help students to both reinforce what they learned throughout the school day and prepare for the future. Homework may, at times, introduce a concept as well, or allow students who work at different paces to catch up to his or her peers. Homework allows students to practice organization and self-management skills and to steadily gain a feeling of self-reliance; it encourages students to reflect and add meaning to what was taught that day. Increases in homework from one grade to the next prepare students for the next grade level. Homework facilitates a more enriching movement through the curriculum; students augment class time with outside study, freeing teaches to introduce new material in a timely manner.

The faculty has established homework guidelines for each grade level. These serve as a guide to students, parents and faculty. Because each student's work style varies, these guidelines are approximate. Teachers will handle late assignments as they feel is most appropriate.

Approximate homework times:
6th Grade	2 hours per night (about 25 minutes per academic subject per night)
7th Grade	2.5 hours per night (about 30 minutes per academic subject per night)
8th Grade	3 hours per night (about 35 minutes per academic subject per night)

The faculty strives to be sensitive to added academic and extracurricular demands placed on the students at certain times in the school year because of athletic contests or special school activities. In advocacies and in class, teachers discuss time management strategies and organizational skills, and they monitor how students are doing with their homework load. If a student is consistently doing more homework than the allotted time above, he or she should meet with his or her classroom teacher, advocate or the academic support coordinator.

What can parents do to help?

• Provide regular study times each day with a definite start and stop time.
• Establish a study area away from distractions (social networking sites, cell phones, video games, etc.) but close to a parent, with good light and space.
• Encourage your child to organize materials before starting his or her homework.
• Encourage your child to finish homework before watching TV, using online social networking websites or playing video games.
• Suggest that your child make a list of tasks for the evening, setting priorities and estimating how much time each assignment will take.
• Recognize that some students need to take modest breaks throughout homework time to stay focused.
• Encourage your child to talk to his or her teachers to clear up any misunderstandings or to troubleshoot problems. It is best that the student speak to the teacher before the parent contacts the teacher about homework difficulties. This helps students learn to advocate for themselves.
• Make sure your child is getting enough sleep every night and is eating a healthy breakfast and dinner.
• Consider displaying a monthly calendar. This can be very helpful for students to see the big picture, noting important project and test dates, athletic games, play practice, and important family events.

If your child is going to be away from school because of a lengthy illness (more than two days), please contact the Middle School Office or your child’s advocate so that we can organize homework materials for him or her to do at home. If your child is home for one day, please ask him or her to contact a classmate or check the class Moodle websites.

Testing Days and Due Dates for Large Projects
To avoid overloading students with too many major tests and/or large projects due on the same day, each grade-level team keeps a common calendar so that no more than two major deadlines fall on one day. Teachers may give quizzes or short papers in addition to scheduled large tests.

Comprehensive Exams
Menlo prepares students to take comprehensive exams in each of their five academic courses beginning in seventh grade. A total of five comprehensive exams are given in the seventh grade and again in the eighth grade. Rather than clustering these exams within a single week, teachers pace the exams throughout the school year with no more than two exams in a single week.

Some exams may be divided over two days to allow for sufficient time. Teachers focus on how students should prepare for exams that cover a larger body of material, providing many review activities and time management and test-taking strategies.

ERB Testing
Every year the Middle School gives the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) tests called the Comprehensive Testing Program IV (CTPIV). We give these tests to help us evaluate the curriculum and measure student progress. Test results are mailed home during the summer.

Math Placement
There are two levels of math in sixth grade, one aimed to give students a comprehensive, thorough experience with the concepts of sixth grade math, and the other to target those who have already had much of the sixth grade curriculum and/or for students with exceptional abilities in math, who can grasp new concepts quickly and move at an accelerated pace. To be placed in the more advanced class, students generally should have earned all As in math in fifth grade and scored above 90% on the ISEE math sections and other standardized tests. We make every effort to place students in the level where they can feel both successful and reasonably challenged. However, we will be carefully assessing and monitoring a student's placement once the year begins, and we will move students between classes as warranted. In seventh grade, students will again be placed into one of two levels of math, Pre-Algebra or Pre-Algebra Honors. The honors course will move at a faster pace and is more conceptual. All eighth graders will be placed into either Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 Honors.

It is important to note that a student's math placement for sixth, seventh or eighth grade is in no way the beginning of a permanent track. Placement in an advanced class is appropriate for some during the middle school years; however, for others it could actually be harmful, eroding their confidence at this critical skill-building time in their lives. At the end of each year, we will re-evaluate every student's math placement to ensure success for the upcoming year. Math placement letters are mailed home in June.

Academic Honor Roll
At the end of the first and second semester, students with an exemplary grade point average in their five academic classes are acknowledged. Students earning a GPA of a 3.67 or higher are awarded an Honors patch that they can display on a Menlo School banner. This award is mailed home along with a congratulatory letter from the Middle School Director. Students with a GPA of 4.0 or higher are awarded High Honors. This award is a gold Menlo pin and is also sent home with a letter of appreciation. We do not publicly recognize honor roll students but instead prefer to acknowledge the fine efforts of our students privately.

The chart below is used to calculate grade point averages. Only semester grades in the five academic classes are used.

A		4.0						C		2.00
A-		3.67						C-		1.67
B+		3.33						D+		1.33
B		3.00						D		1.00
B-		2.67						D-		.67
C+		2.33						F		0

Promotion
Sixth and seventh grade students must maintain satisfactory grades and good citizenship. Students who are offered re-enrollment agreements must maintain a 2.67 GPA for the remainder of the school year and receive no grades of F for the last quarter of the year, in order to maintain eligibility for fall enrollment. In very unusual instances, the Head of School and Middle School Director reserve the right to offer fall enrollment to a student who has not maintained a 2.67 GPA but who has grappled with a serious family, medical or emotional issue during the school year.

Eighth grade students do not need to apply to the Upper School. In order to be promoted to the ninth grade, students must demonstrate consistently good citizenship and the ability to be successful in an environment characterized by increasing academic challenges and independence. Eighth grade students who earn a first semester average of B- (GPA of 2.67) or better and have been good citizens will normally receive an enrollment agreement for ninth grade. (For the purposes of promotion, the GPA is calculated using the semester grades in the five academic subjects.) If a student has had poor attendance or social, emotional or medical issues that exceed the School's resources, or if other factors indicate to Menlo School in its discretion that admission to the Upper School would not be appropriate, the student may not be offered enrollment in the ninth grade.

Eighth grade students earning a GPA between 2.333 and 2.67 will be reviewed by a committee comprised of the Middle School Director, Director of the Upper School and teachers from both divisions. This committee will review the student's work and make a recommendation about promotion to the Upper School to the Head of School. Students who have an average below a C+ for the year (GPA of less than 2.000) or a D in any course will not be promoted. If a student has received an enrollment agreement but subsequently drops below the School's minimal GPA, receives a D in any course or does not show consistently good citizenship, the enrollment agreement may be rescinded.

Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is essential to every healthy academic institution. All students are expected to honor this value by acting honestly in every aspect of their academic lives. Violating academic integrity is contrary to Menlo School's values and will be grounds for disciplinary action.

Because the major goal of a Menlo education is to promote the intellectual growth of each student, Menlo students are expected to perform and produce their own work. Work copied from another student, another author or the Internet or work completed by a parent or tutor does not enhance individual growth and is a violation of the community value of honesty. Students can learn a great deal by discussing a topic with classmates, parents or tutors, but we expect students to complete and submit their own work. Any student who is unsure of the line between group collaboration and individual work should consult with his or her teacher.

Classroom Preparation
Menlo School believes that every minute of the school day holds potential for engaging and challenging students in intellectual endeavors. To maximize opportunities for all students to learn, we expect students to be on time and prepared for each class. In addition to completing the homework, they should have the necessary books, pens, pencils, paper, binders and anything else the teacher deems important.

Making up Missed Work
When students are absent due to illness, we hope that they will focus their energy on getting well rather than doing homework. In addition, little of the homework assigned at the Middle School lends itself to completion in isolation from the class or guidance from the teacher. If a student is absent one or two days, the School encourages the students to check Moodle or contact a classmate for homework assignments.

Students who are home sick have an extra day for each day of absence to make up work. If a student has been absent but feels well enough to begin homework, he or she should know how to work ahead for some classes and is encouraged to contact a classmate for homework. If a student is sick for three days or more, teachers will compile tailored assignments and instructions in a package that can be collected at the Middle School Office. Whether an absence is long or short, students who have been sick are responsible for scheduling extra time with their teachers when they return in order to review the material they missed. If students must miss school because of a family obligation, they are responsible for notifying the Middle School Office, obtaining assignments and test schedules well in advance of the time away from school, presenting the work on their first day back, and scheduling make-up exams.

Extra Help
Teachers provide extra help sessions on either Tuesdays or Thursdays during the school day. Students may attend on a volunteer basis or may be requested to do so by individual teachers. As these sessions are regularly scheduled throughout the year, students are encouraged to attend whenever they see the need. These sessions should be regarded as an ongoing support system for all students, not only for students who are experiencing academic difficulties. Teachers may also request students to attend extra help sessions after school. Students who feel the need to meet with a teacher for extra help after school should schedule an appointment with that teacher during the school day. Please note that there is always the possibility that other students will be there who also need help.

 

Expectations for Student Behavior

Menlo School is committed to promoting the values of trust, honesty, respect for people and property, appreciation of differences, and commitment to the community. The individual students are seen as the foundation of the Menlo community; we value their diversity of talents, interests, ideas, behaviors and cultures. It is our expectation that all members of the community will take part in creating and maintaining a positive school climate. It is also our expectation that all members of the community will avoid or minimize behavior that is disruptive to any aspect of the learning environment, that interferes with maintenance of appropriate discipline in the operation of the School, or that invades the rights of others.

While we know that the middle school years are a time when students are experimenting with different behaviors and that students may make mistakes in this time of rapid growth and change, students are expected to behave in accordance with the School's values at all times. A demonstrated understanding of these values is one of the foremost criteria for admission. Once at Menlo, students are expected to be honest and trustworthy and to demonstrate respect toward all members of the community. At all times students should avoid behavior that compromises these values, threatens the safety of any member of the Menlo community or detracts from the educational environment. Both on and off the campus, Menlo School students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that brings credit to themselves and the entire Menlo community.

Disciplinary Process
Our goal is to provide Middle School students support for personal growth and a clear understanding of our community values and behavioral expectations, as well as the consequences for misbehavior. We believe that when students understand the community's expectations and receive support for appropriate behavior, disciplinary situations become extremely rare. If a student disregards Menlo's values, the violation usually will be addressed through a disciplinary process. Violations of community values include but are not limited to dishonesty, theft, cheating, plagiarism, threatening or inflicting harm on a person verbally or physically, bullying–either in person or in cyberspace–abuse or destruction of property, sexual or any other form of harassment, use of racist or sexist language, and the use or possession of tobacco, alcohol, drugs or any type of weapon. Any other behavior that compromises School values, disrupts the learning environment, interferes with maintenance of appropriate discipline, violates the rights of another member of the Menlo community or threatens the safety of any member of the community may also be deemed a violation.

Violations will be brought to the attention of the Director or Assistant Director, who will formulate a course of action, and, in serious cases, involve the Head of School. Consequences for violations of school values are determined within the discretion of the School and may range from required participation in a school service program to expulsion. In especially egregious situations, the Director, Assistant Director or Head of School may act immediately to suspend or expel the student. Students who repeatedly violate the School's major behavioral standards in less egregious ways or do not demonstrate an appropriate effort to correct their unacceptable behavior may also lose the privilege of attending Menlo either permanently or for the following school year. A pattern of less serious disciplinary issues may also lead to the loss of this privilege. Should a student be denied promotion to the next grade for disciplinary or any other reason, the School will endeavor to alert parents of this decision in a timely manner so that alternative school plans can be made; however, this may not be possible in all instances.

Because the School's goal is to provide opportunities to learn and practice acceptable behavior, in most situations the Middle School Director or the Assistant Director will provide the student with a chance to reflect on and practice alternative behaviors. We view discipline as a cooperative effort between parents and the School, and we expect parents to be supportive of School values. When the School and parents work together, any disciplinary situation can be an opportunity for learning and growth.

Cell Phones and Portable Music Players
To minimize classroom distractions and protect students' belongings, iPods or other music players, cell phones and ear buds should remain at home or be kept in a locked locker during class time. Upon arrival to Menlo's campus, these devices must be stored in locked lockers. The devices may be used on campus to make transportation arrangements after school hours. The office phone is available to students during the school day. If there is a misuse of the equipment, cell phones and portable music players may be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the day. If there is repeated misuse, the parents of the student will be notified and further consequences may be determined by the Assistant Director or Middle School Director.

Closed Campus
In order to maintain an environment appropriate for Middle School students, the Middle School has a closed campus. In other words, students may not leave the Menlo grounds during school hours unless they have written permission from their parents or are accompanied by a faculty member or parent. This written permission should be delivered to the Middle School office when the student arrives at school. While on the campus, students enjoy freedom along with certain responsibilities. They may walk to shared parts of the campus for lunch, sports or library work, but should return to the Middle School by the most direct route. Middle School students are not permitted to visit the Menlo College bookstore or Student Union or the Upper School Student Center. Middle School Students are not permitted to buy snacks in the Upper School Student Center.

Dining Hall Behavior
Menlo values responsible, respectful and civil behavior in all environments. In order to provide an enjoyable mealtime experience, students are expected to be civil in the Dining Hall. They should line up for food politely, treat the staff with respect, take only what food they will eat, clear their own tables, and leave plates, cups and utensils in the Dining Hall. Students may take a piece of fruit or two cookies on their way back to the campus after lunch; any other food must be consumed in the cafeteria.

Dress Code
Students should dress for school in a casual yet modest manner that allows them to participate fully in school activities. Students who come to school dressed for the beach or a party do not set an appropriate example for their peers, can draw inappropriate attention to themselves and may disrupt the learning of others. Specifically, students must wear shoes and clothes that cover their underwear (no boxer shorts or bra straps showing). Students may not wear offensive or inappropriate T-shirts or outfits that are excessively bare, such as halter tops, camisoles, tube tops, spaghetti straps, low-cut tops, low-cropped pants with bare midriffs, or skimpy shorts or skirts. Leggings should be covered by either shorts, a skirt or dress. Tight yoga pants are not acceptable. Boys' t-shirts must have sleeves. Parents should address Menlo's dress code with their children at home before coming to school in the morning and also while shopping for school clothes. Students who are not suitably dressed for school will be sent home to change or will be given sweat pants or a sweatshirt to wear for the remainder of the day.

Swim suits, Lycra bike shorts, Spandex volleyball shorts or tight yoga pants are not to be worn outside of the athletic center or swimming pool area. If students are going to a game or event, they can wear sweats or regular athletic shorts over their volleyball shorts, swim suits, bike shorts or yoga pants.

Fire Drills
The School has at least one fire drill a month. When the fire alarm signal is heard, everyone is to vacate the buildings quietly and calmly, proceed to the Middle School Quad, and line up by class. Teachers will check to see that all students are present. Students are not to leave the area until they are instructed to do so.

Additionally, we intermittently hold earthquake and lockdown drills in order to familiarize our students with the appropriate procedures for other emergency situations.

Food, Drink and Gum
To maintain an environment that is both clean and conducive to learning, we ask that students refrain from bringing food and drinks into classrooms except for special events specified by the teachers. Chewing gum and glass bottles are not permitted on the Middle School campus. Students bear responsibility for maintaining a pleasant school community and therefore should clean up after consuming food or drinks on campus.

 

General Policies and Information

Absences
Because of the active and participatory nature of Menlo classes, regular attendance is essential. Students are expected to attend all classes, including PE, except in the case of illness, a family obligation or a religious holy day. Unexcused absences include vacations, parties or outings with classmates, staying home to do homework or catching up on sleep. Students may not participate in any school- or sports-related activity on a day they are absent four or more periods of the academic day. Absences are also reported on grade cards. Students who anticipate an absence from school should request an absence form from the office to be signed by each teacher, acknowledging the student's absence, so that upcoming assignments and tests can be addressed with the student.

After-School Supervision
The Middle School office closes at 4:00 pm. After that time, there is no supervision of students on the Middle School campus. Security patrols the campus, but we do advise that your child is picked up by 4:00 pm or immediately following the end of a game or play rehearsal. Students who need to use the Library after school may do so, but please note that this is not an after-school program, and the librarian is there as an academic resource for students. All Middle School students should be picked up no later than 5:30 pm from the Library.

Attendance
A clear, positive relationship exists between school attendance and academic achievement. Developing good attendance, timely arrival at school and productive work habits are important components of a student's overall preparation in becoming an efficient learner and a responsible individual.

Cell Phone Usage by Parents in the Parking Lot
For the safety of our students and in accordance with California law, please do not use your cell phone while driving in the parking lot or on campus roads.

Communication with Teachers
Parents may contact teachers by telephone (see website directory for teachers' extensions) or by email. Each of the teachers' email addresses is structured by first name, followed by a period, followed by the last name, and then followed by @menloschool.org (e.g., Jane Smith's email would be jane.smith@menloschool.org). Please note that teachers may not respond immediately to phone or email messages as they may be teaching class or in a meeting, but do expect a response by the end of the next working day.

Health Services
Health and medical services are provided by the Health Services Coordinator. Students who feel ill or need medical attention should inform their teacher and then proceed to the Health Office. Non-prescription medications will be available and administered at the student's request from the Health Office only with written authorization by the parent or guardian on file. Prescription medications can only be dispensed by the School Nurse during the school day at the request of a parent or guardian. For safety, parents are asked to supply prescription medications in the original container, clearly labeled with the child's name and the prescribing physician's instructions. All medications are kept in a locked cabinet. Middle School students are not allowed to carry prescription or non-prescription medication of any kind on their person, in their backpack or stored in their locker unless the parent or guardian has spoken with and received approval from the School Nurse. If your child needs any over-the-counter medication that is not generally available on site to the School Nurse, the medication must be given to the Health Office in the original container for dispensing.

Lost and Found
Lost and found barrels are kept near the Middle School Office for clothes, books and other items that are lost or misplaced. Beginning in September, items in the lost and found will be given to charity at the end of each month. Parents are strongly encouraged to label their child's clothing and personal items. Articles left in the Library are taken to the Upper School lost and found.

Parent Drivers for Field Trips and Sporting Events
It is inevitable that parents may drive students other than their own children in their personal vehicles. For the protection of our students, we ask that all parents who expect to drive Menlo students (other than their own children) provide Menlo's Transportation Manager (ext. 2562) with a copy of a valid driver's license and proof of insurance coverage. All drivers (teachers, administrators and parents) who drive students are subject to a DMV record check and clearance by the Transportation Manager.

Parent Parking
During the school day, Middle School parents may park in the Valparaiso lot where a few spaces are reserved for visitors. It is very important to keep the handicapped parking places open for those who need it, and tickets will be given to violators. Parents also need to stay away from the "School Buses Only" strip and always keep fire lanes clear. For athletic events, parents may also use these parking areas and walk to the fields or park in the Cartan Field Lot on Alejandra Ave. The parking by Wunderlich Field (behind the dining hall) is reserved for Menlo College only. Parents may not park in the Middle School parking lot or use it as a drop-off or pick-up location for their children.

Parents Away From Home
Parents are asked to notify the Middle School Office when they plan to be away from home and their child is in the care of another adult.

School-Day Appointments
Parents are asked to make every effort to schedule doctor's, orthodontist's and other appointments after school (3:15 pm). When that is not possible, parents should write a note and have their child give it to the Middle School Office at the start of the school day. Before leaving campus, the student should check out with the Middle School Office. Upon returning to campus, the student should check in at the Middle School Office.

Shuttle to the Train Station
A yellow Menlo School bus takes students to and from the Menlo Park train station free of charge every morning and afternoon. The bus makes a continuous loop from the train station to Menlo 7:00 am-8:00 am each morning and 3:15 pm-5:30 pm each afternoon. No advance sign up is necessary. Please avoid stopping along the red curb section of the loop, which is reserved for bus parking.

Student Drop Off and Pick Up
Students must be safely dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon. Parents should be sure to use the loop in the Valparaiso lot for morning drop off and to pull all the way forward to the curb before children disembark. Do not stop the flow of traffic on the loop during this busy time to drop off your eager child and do not use the Middle School parking lot for drop off. Although the traffic on the loop may be heavy and the Middle School lot a tempting shortcut, it is much too small for a car to safely navigate the drop off and U-turn. In the afternoon, students may be picked up on the loop at 3:15 using the same parking guidelines. To avoid the peak times, students can be dropped off between 7:30-7:40 am and picked up between 3:20-3:30 pm.

Tardiness
The campus opens at 7:30 am and instruction begins at 7:50 am. Students should arrive at school with enough time to go to their lockers, gather the materials they need for class and settle into their seats so they are ready to learn when the bell rings. Therefore, students should arrive at school between 7:30 and 7:45 am. Students who arrive after 7:50 am are tardy and must report to the office to obtain a pass before going to class.

Since most Middle School students are dependent on others for transportation to school, we ask parents to ensure the prompt arrival of their children each day. Some tardies are unavoidable, and in those cases students are issued an "excused tardy" slip when they arrive. Examples of excused tardies include a family emergency, illness and stalled traffic. We do not excuse tardies for students who oversleep, stay home to finish homework or are simply late without a legitimate reason. This includes students who carpool with older siblings.

Students who are tardy miss valuable instruction and disrupt class. Students who are habitually tardy will be referred to the Director or Assistant Director for disciplinary action. After four unexcused tardies in a quarter, parents will be contacted to devise a remedy for the morning commute problems. Unexcused tardiness is reported on grade cards.

Telephone Use
Students may use the Middle School office phone during school hours but must ask permission first. The phone is intended only for special circumstances. Students may use a pay phone, located outside the Commons, after school hours only; there is also a telephone available in the Library. Daily plans should be made before coming to school so that the need to use the phone is limited. Please do not expect your child to call home each day to be picked up from school in the afternoon. Cell phones should not be used during school hours. Students should turn their phones off or keep them in their locked locker.

zipNotes
Keep an eye out for the zipNotes, emailed to parents and published online weekly to keep the Middle School community informed. It includes up-to-date calendar items, information about sports events, field trip information, MS-MSA news, announcements, invitations and requests. You will find zipNotes online at the Menlo School website here.

 

Student Support and Activities

Advocacy Program
The purpose of the MS Advocacy Program is to build a community within our larger school community. The student body is divided into small groups, with an advocate (teacher or administrator) serving as a facilitator. Team-building activities, school service, service learning days, spirit activities, character and ethics discussions, and academic problem solving play an important part in creating vital connections. The advocate's role is to provide support, promote constructive communication with peers and adults, counsel students on academic progress, promote efficient calendar planning, and provide opportunities for social development within a structured environment. Advocacy groups meet twice weekly so students can receive the guidance, attention and support they require. Parents are encouraged to call or email the advocate with any concerns relating to their child. If the concern is confined to an issue within a single subject area, then the classroom teacher of that subject should be contacted first. There is a faculty Director of Advocacy for each grade level.

Clubs and Activities
A variety of clubs and activities exist to provide students with opportunities to develop their talents and interests and to explore new ones. A wide variety of clubs are offered, such as Student Council, yearbook, philanthropy and design challenges, among others. Students are assigned to a club each quarter based on a ranked list of their choices. Supervised study halls and extra help are also available during this time.

Counseling
The Middle School is staffed by a licensed counselor. Counseling services include crisis intervention, individual counseling, parent consultation and referrals. The counselor may refer the student and his or her family to an outside therapist or specialist when she determines extended counseling sessions, family therapy or specialized treatment is required. The Counselor also coordinates Human Skills classes aimed at increasing student awareness of lifestyle issues such as body image, nutrition and wellness, relationships, sexuality, coping and resiliency skills, the adolescent brain, and social issues such as substance abuse, tobacco use and eating disorders. The counselor also plans grade-level parent education nights.

Service Learning
Students participate in a range of community service learning projects both on and off campus. The goal of this program is to educate students about the needs in their community and their roles as community members to affect positive change. Six Middle School service-learning days are planned each year (two in each grade) with local agencies that provide services to those in need as well as organizations that promote environmental awareness and clean-up projects. Each grade level chooses a theme for its service so that volunteerism is also a part of academic curriculum. In addition, the School organizes food, school supply and toy drives and invites guest speakers to assemblies.

Student Government
The purpose of student government is to unify students and create a voice that speaks for student interests. The Student Council is composed of elected co-presidents, a vice-president, secretary-treasurer and three senators from each grade. The officers are elected in the spring, all for a one-year term for the following year. Grade-level senators will be elected in the fall for the upcoming term, and they will serve for one semester. New senators will be elected in February for the second semester. Students who wish to run for a position must have a contract signed by their advocate. Students have three days to campaign and prepare for their speeches. In order to run for any office and to retain their position, officers and senators must maintain a minimum B average, with no grades below C. Student Council officers and senators should be prepared to attend all weekly Student Council meetings, unless they need to attend an extra help session.

Student Recognition
The Middle School views student recognition as a daily activity encouraging the positive development of unique individuals. Rather than presenting pre-established awards at the end of the year, the School instead recognizes students in public and private, formal and informal ways throughout the year. These include the displays of exemplary projects, team parties in which coaches thank individual athletes for their efforts, presentations at Monday assemblies, Creative Arts assemblies, drama productions, Knight Clubs, and verbal and written comments of teachers. With these many opportunities for students to shine and receive recognition for their achievements, students learn to value creativity, original thinking, good citizenship and hard work.

 

Academics

Academic Requirements
The following courses must be taken as minimum academic requirements for graduation:

Creative Arts - 3 semesters

• One semester in Freshman Rotation
• Two semesters of Chamber Orchestra, Chorus, Drama, Jazz Band, Jazz Dance, Moviemaking, Studio Art or Photography

English - 4 years including both semesters senior year

Foreign Language - 3rd level

• 2 years minimum taken in Upper School

History - 3 years

• World Religions
• Modern World History
• U.S. History or AP U.S. History

Mathematics - 3 years, including

• "Analytic Geometry and Algebra" and Algebra 2

Science - 3 years

• Physics
• Conceptual Chemistry or Accelerated Chemistry
• Biology

Freshman Rotation

Physical Education - 4 semesters

• Participation for one season in a school sport and the Wellness portion of Freshman Rotation each count for one semester of PE credit. If a student has already fulfilled the Creative Arts requirement, a year of Jazz Dance can count for two PE credits. The maximum number of PE credits a student can earn per year is two.

Community Service - 20 hours each freshman and sophomore years and an individual (PACT) plan for junior and senior years

Knight School - each year

Senior Project

Academic Overview
The courses listed above are required. Menlo strongly recommends that students take additional courses. Menlo's graduation requirements meet or exceed the minimum eligibility requirements for the University of California in all academic categories. While Menlo requires a minimum of four academic core courses each year for four years, students should plan on taking five academic courses for several years in order to meet the graduation requirements. Academic core courses include all the offerings from the English, Foreign Language, History, Math, Science, and Applied Science and Engineering departments in addition to Introduction to Computer Programming, AP Computer Science, Engineering, Engineering II, AP Music Theory and AP Art Portfolio.

Honors and/or Advanced Placement courses are offered in all academic departments; each department establishes the requirements for admission into its courses. Students enrolled in an AP course are expected to take the College Board AP Examination administered in May, but any student may elect to take any AP exam without taking the AP course. Menlo offers AP exams in all AP courses offered. AP exams in courses not offered at Menlo can be ordered at a student's request by the Registrar.

As the Menlo transcript represents a student's experience on campus, courses taken outside of Menlo generally will not appear on the student's transcript and are not included in the computation of grade point average (GPA). Transcripts from other institutions will be attached to the Menlo transcript when a student is applying to colleges or summer programs.

Outside coursework may be taken for Menlo credit or to remediate a grade only with prior approval from the Director of the Upper School. Courses taken to remediate a Menlo grade will appear on the Menlo transcript. A student may retake a course for one semester's work regardless of the grade received as long as they do so within a year of the original course. Students may repeat courses during the subsequent school year at Menlo, during Menlo’s Summer Session (if offered). Menlo does not accept credit for online courses. Before enrolling in classes at other institutions, students must obtain approval from the Director of the Upper School. For remediated classes, the transcript will show both of the grades; the old grade will have an asterisk next to it to indicate it has been replaced, and only the grade earned in the repeated course will be used in the computation of GPA.

The deadline to add a course is two weeks after the beginning of the course. A student may drop a course without notation on the transcript up to the fifth week of that course. Beyond the fifth week, the transcript will indicate that the student withdrew from the course passing (WP) or failing (WF). Students who drop a yearlong class in the second semester lose credit for the first semester's work. In some instances, students can add a yearlong course in the second semester; they are graded on a pass/fail basis.

The freshman curriculum consists of required courses along with Math and Foreign Language courses as determined through placement examinations. Sophomores, juniors and seniors fill out course selection forms in the spring. Students may not request a specific teacher for a course, but if they are assigned to a teacher they have had previously, we'll make every effort to put them in a different section with a new teacher.

Independent Study
Students may also pursue independent study. Independent study courses may not be taken in lieu of a core course and do not count toward the minimum of four classes per semester. All independent study courses are taken on a pass/fail basis. These courses may be taken with permission from the Director of the Upper School and must be directed by a member of the Menlo staff. Petitions are available from the Registrar. Students cannot take an AP course via independent study.

Grades
Grades reflect the student's achievement and are based on examinations, classroom discussion, homework and any other performance standards that a faculty member considers relevant.

Grades are awarded on the following scale:

A (93-100)		4.0						C (73-76)		2.00
A- (90-92)		3.67						C- (70-72)		1.67
B+ (87-89)		3.33						D+ (67-69)		1.33
B (83-86)		3.00						D (63-66)		1.00
B- (80-82)		2.67						D- (60-62)		.67
C+ (77-79)		2.33						F (<60)		0.0
								P (pass)		0.0

Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated using the scores above in conjunction with the credit-weight of the course. Pass/fail (+/-) grades are awarded in Physical Education and the non-Creative Arts half of the Freshman Rotation. Students may also elect to take courses that are not required and are not Honors or AP on a pass/fail basis. Under this option a passing grade is "C" or higher. The deadline to adopt the pass/fail option is the fifth week of the course. These courses do not enter into the calculation of the GPA.

Students' grades are adjusted upward by .3 in Honors or AP courses. Menlo does not rank individual students by GPA. To provide context, we publish GPA quintile breakdowns in our official School profile.

In order to remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 each semester in their academic core courses. Any student who falls below this minimum is placed on academic probation. Without significant improvement in the following semester, the student may be asked to leave the School. Seniors must pass all second semester courses and clear all Incompletes (INCs) in order to graduate.

Incompletes
The grade of INC (Incomplete) may be used if a teacher wishes to extend a student's opportunity to complete assigned work. Any case of an Incomplete status must be promptly and clearly communicated to the student, parents and advocate. A student will be given two weeks after semester grades are due to make up the work. Exceptions may be made for health reasons; these must be communicated to the student and Director of the Upper School. Work that is not made up by the end of the two weeks will become a "0" to be averaged with the student's other grades in that course. The final averaged semester grade is reported promptly to the Academic Office.

College Entrance Requirements
"D" grades are considered passing at Menlo and courses in which students receive grades of "D" earn credit toward Menlo's graduation requirements. However, students should be aware that "D" grades do not meet the University of California and California State University "a-g" subject requirements for admission to those universities. This is the case even though the student's overall GPA might be higher than the minimum GPA required to be eligible for admission. For example, both the University of California and CSU systems require applicants to complete four years of high school English with grades of "C-" or higher to be eligible for admission. Thus, any Menlo student earning a semester grade in English below "C-" will need to make up that subject deficiency in order to be eligible for admission to the UC or CSU systems.

Grading Procedures
The expectations for a course are established by individual teachers and given in written form to each student by the end of the first week of school. Each student is responsible for understanding the requirements and grading policy of courses in which he or she is enrolled.

Report Cards
Letter grades are reported mid-semester and at the semester's end. Mid-semester grades are progress indicators and do not appear on the student's transcript or affect GPA. Semester grades appear on the permanent transcript. All semester grades except INC (Incomplete) are considered final. Report cards are sent home at the end of each mid-semester and semester grading period.

Written comments by teachers accompany quarterly and semester grades for each course.

Changing Grades
A teacher may change a student's grade only if a computational or clerical error produced an incorrect grade. A teacher may not change a student's grade after re-evaluating his or her work. Any grade change must be approved by the Director of the Upper School.

Academic Make-Up Policy

• When students are ill, Menlo expects that they will stay at home and focus on getting well.
• Upon returning from an excused absence, students will be given the opportunity to make up major pieces of work (tests and presentations) without loss of credit.
• Make-up policies for daily work such as homework and quizzes will be determined by the teacher.
• If a student misses or expects to miss five consecutive days of school for health reasons, parents or the student must call the Director of the Upper School and the Dean of Students.
• A student whose absence is unexcused will not receive credit for the unexcused day and will not be allowed to make up work. All attendance decisions will be made by the Dean of Students.
• A student who is consistently absent on test or quiz days or when major work is due will be reported to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students and the teacher will discuss the situation and determine an appropriate course of action.

Study Away
Menlo supports students who want to study abroad during their high school years. Ordinarily, a student would take a year away as an enrichment year and return to Menlo to complete four years on our campus. If a student wished to receive credit from another institution for study abroad or at another institution, that student would need to receive prior approval from the Upper School Director. Menlo can only approve a small number of such requests per year.

Academic & LD Support Services
Menlo School seeks to help all students reach their full academic potential and to become independent learners. Even though the School offers neither a formal resource program nor educational and related testing, we do provide support for students with some limited diagnosed learning differences. For example, we hold periodic individual and group meetings that address what students can do to help themselves become their own advocates; we help students develop an awareness of their academic strengths, weaknesses and styles of learning; we refer students to outside tutorial help and to licensed professional evaluators; and we offer appropriate college counseling to ensure that students continue their higher education in a setting commensurate with their individual needs and abilities.

Students seeking assistance with learning differences must meet periodically with the Academic Support Coordinator to discuss how best to approach their academic program and to review academic issues and progress. Whenever a student seeks to obtain accommodations with respect to standardized tests, appropriate testing and assessment records from a qualified professional must be filed with Menlo School following the documentation guidelines developed by Educational Testing Service's Office of Disability Policy (available through the Academic Support Coordinator). The comprehensive testing/assessment should be submitted to Menlo School by October of the sophomore year in order for the student to be eligible to receive accommodations for standardized tests such as the PSAT and SAT.

Menlo School also seeks to help students with physical disabilities achieve full academic potential. Assistance in this regard is also arranged through the Academic Support Coordinator.

 

Expectations for Student Behavior

Students are expected to behave in accordance with the School's values and rules at all times both on and off campus, online and off. Any behavior that denigrates or insults another student or detracts in any manner from others' ability and opportunity to learn is not acceptable. The same is true with respect to behavior that intrudes upon or violates the rights of others. Menlo students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that brings credit to themselves and to the entire Menlo community.

Behavior in the Classroom
Menlo prides itself on fostering respect between student and teacher and respect among students, and on maintaining an atmosphere of trust in its classrooms. Students are expected to adhere to the School's values and rules in the classroom and to treat their classmates and teachers with civility and respect. Teachers typically will familiarize students with specific behavioral expectations at the beginning of each course. Most difficulties between teacher and student are resolved privately through discussion. We recognize, however, that on occasion a serious problem may arise. In such a case, the teacher will ordinarily consult with the student's advocate and with other School personnel and parents as appropriate.

Dispute Resolution
For information, please see the All School section.

Dress Code
Students should be clean, neat and dressed appropriately for school. Student dress may not depict the following: the use of tobacco products, the use of alcohol, the use of illegal substances, an act of violence, any other illegal act, profanity, explicit sexual material, nudity and explicit sexual acts. Students whose dress is determined to be inappropriate by the Dean of Students will be asked to change clothing or will be sent home. For official School functions, the School will determine the standard of dress.

Substance Abuse
Any student found to be in possession of, or to have consumed, sold or distributed any of the prohibited substances listed below while at school, during school activities or traveling to or from such events will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee and may be subject to immediate expulsion. In addition, students found to be in the presence of these substances at school, during school activities, or traveling to or from such events may also be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.

Prohibited Substances: alcohol, tobacco products, illicit drugs, hallucinogenic agents, anabolic steroids, dietary, nutritional and/or performance-enhancing supplements not approved by the School.*

* See the Athletic Trainer for a list of approved supplements.

Expectations of Parents
Menlo considers the partnership between the School and home to be essential for the success and well-being of students and for the fulfillment of the School's mission. Such a partnership involves parents respecting and upholding the values and policies stated in the Student and Parent Handbook. All School policies are important; perhaps the most important relates to drugs and alcohol. Parents who knowingly allow minors to use drugs or alcohol in their homes should understand that they are violating California law, Menlo School policies, and, most importantly, creating an unsafe environment. Because this is such a serious issue, in such circumstances, as well as in any other situation where drugs or alcohol are involved, Menlo will take appropriate disciplinary action. This may include the termination of the student and family's affiliation with the School.

Academic Integrity and Expectations
Menlo School is committed to promoting the major values of trust, honesty, respect for people and property, appreciation of diversity, and commitment to the community. The individual student, with unique talents, is the foundation of the Menlo community. We value the range in talents, interests, ideas, customs and cultures found among our students.

Academic integrity is essential to every academic institution. All students are expected to honor this value by acting honestly in every aspect of their academic lives. Violating academic integrity is contrary to Menlo School's values and will be grounds for disciplinary action.

A major goal of a Menlo education is to promote the intellectual growth of each student. To this end, Menlo students are expected to perform and produce their own work. Substitution of another's work for one's own violates the School's expectation of academic integrity and impedes the intellectual growth of the student.

Students can improve their understanding of a topic by discussing assignments with parents, tutors or other students, as well as by appropriate use of a variety of learning and study aids. However, we expect students to submit their own work. Submitting another's work or ideas as one's own without proper attribution constitutes plagiarism and is no less an academic offense than cheating on a test.

The following are examples of academic dishonesty:

• Presenting as one's own an idea or statement taken in full or in part, or even paraphrased, from some other source, whether another person, a published work (including material in electronic form), or another student's work.

• Using unauthorized notes or other aids in a test; or copying from or being influenced by another student's work (orally or visually) during a test, quiz, etc.; or seeking unauthorized information about a test or quiz to be taken.

• Giving unauthorized aid to another student; allowing another student to copy or use one's test, paper, or homework; telling another student what was on a test that can reasonably be expected will be given to that student at a later time.

• Submitting papers or other work already produced for another course without the approval of both teachers.

• Obtaining help (from a parent, tutor, another teacher or another student) on homework or take-home tests that exceeds the limits specified by the teacher assigning the work (in effect, plagiarism).

• Stealing, deceptively using or deliberately destroying or altering library or other educational materials not one's own, including computer programs and laboratory procedures or notebooks. (This might be vandalism, but it is also academic dishonesty.)

The preceding situations are only illustrations. Inappropriate academic behavior may take other forms as well.

If a student is suspected of academic dishonesty, the teacher or test proctor will report the incident to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students and the Director of Upper School will then review the incident. If the Dean of Students and the Director of Upper School believe that the student may have engaged in academic dishonesty, an appropriate course of action will be determined and may include a review by the Disciplinary Committee. In certain instances, Menlo School has the discretion to and may conclude that immediate expulsion is appropriate.

 

Disciplinary Process

Disciplinary Committee
Menlo seeks to provide students with support for personal growth and with a clear understanding of our community values and behavioral expectations as well as an understanding of the consequences for transgressions. On occasion, students may fall short of Menlo's expectations and values by behaving at School, at a School activity or in any other setting in a way that compromises School values, threatens the safety or reputation of themselves or another member of the Menlo community, violates the rights of other members of the community, or detracts from the learning environment. For example, the following are considered violations: dishonesty; theft; verbal or physical abuse; bullying; hazing; defamatory statements; sexual harassment; substance abuse (including the sharing of prescription drugs); abuse or destruction of property; use of racist or sexist language; academic dishonesty; any act or statement that invades the privacy or violates other rights of another member of the Menlo Community. Behavior taking place in cyberspace is of equal concern and will be treated no differently from behavior taking place in person. The above are only illustrations, and other types of inappropriate behavior may be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.

When a possible infraction has occurred in the Upper School, the Head of School, the Upper School Director or the Dean of Students may (but are not required to) convene the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee consists of the Dean of Students (chair), faculty members and certain student government officers. The Disciplinary Committee often serves as a "sounding board" for the Head of School, the Upper School Director, the Dean of Students and others as appropriate when general issues of behavior and integrity arise within the community. It also reviews specific instances and makes recommendations when School values and rules may have been violated by a student. The course of action recommended by the Committee is forwarded to the Upper School Director and/or the Head of School for further consideration and final action.

A student who has abridged School values or rules may be disciplined by way of counseling with teachers, his or her advocate, the School Counselor and/or the Dean of Students to provide the student with opportunities to reflect on and learn from the matter. In situations involving more serious violations or repeat offenses, within the School's sole discretion–and with or without consultation with the Disciplinary Committee–discipline can also include probation, suspension or expulsion.

The results of the disciplinary process, whether involving the Disciplinary Committee or not, will be communicated to the student and his or her parents. In addition, the administration reserves the right to share the results of the disciplinary process with the School community in an effort to help students understand the relationship between the incident and the School's values.

Students who violate the School's major behavioral standards or do not demonstrate an appropriate effort to correct unacceptable behavior may lose the privilege of attending Menlo, either immediately or for the following school year. A pattern of less serious disciplinary issues may also lead to the loss of this privilege. Should a student be denied promotion to the next grade for disciplinary or any other reason, the School will endeavor to alert parents of this decision in a timely manner so that alternative school plans can be made; however, this may not be possible in all instances.

Reporting of Disciplinary Incidents to Colleges and Universities
Because colleges and universities place a high value on personal and academic integrity, applicants and their college counselors are often asked to report disciplinary violations that have involved the student who seeks admission. If requested by a college or university to which a student has applied, Menlo School will report incidents in 9th through 12th grade that resulted in the student being dismissed, suspended or placed on citizenship probation. Menlo School will also report voluntary withdrawals whenever such information is requested by a college or university.

College admission officers generally seek additional information from the School to determine whether a reported violation was an isolated incident or part of a pattern of behavior. Our experience is that it is to a student's advantage to deal with questions relating to disciplinary incidents in an honest, straightforward way; the student is well served by writing directly to the college or university's admissions office to explain the incident. It is also our experience that it is often to the student's advantage to address the matter with college or university admissions personnel even before the School makes its report.

The School reserves the right to inform a student's prospective college or university of any significant change in behavior that required disciplinary action or resulted in departure from the School through the very end of senior year. In fact, most colleges and universities require that the School report such information even after the student has been accepted for admission.

 

Attendance Information

Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes except in the case of verified illness or when excused by the Dean of Students. Students must attend a minimum of three classes in order to participate in any extracurricular activities on the day of the absence, unless special permission is given by the Dean of Students. In the event of a Friday absence, the student may be ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities on Saturday or Sunday.

 

Semester Absence Policy
Any extended absence from class denies the student a complete understanding of the curriculum. If a student misses eight or more days, excused or unexcused, in any class during a semester, his or her status will be reviewed by the Dean of Students and/or the Director of Upper School and he or she may lose credit for the class. For legal purposes Menlo School is required to keep accurate records of student attendance.

Excused Absence - Full Day

Illness
In the event of illness, the student's parents must inform the School by calling the Attendance Line at 650.330.2000 ext. 2300 between 7:30 am and 9:00 am or by emailing Liz Segura at liz.segura@menloschool.org.

Extended Absence
Students who expect to miss two or more days of school due to appointments or family obligations must obtain an Absence Request Form from the Student Life Office. The completed form must be returned to the Student Life Office at least two days prior to the day(s) on which the absence will occur.

College Visits
Students are encouraged to visit colleges during school vacations. If a visit is scheduled when school is in session, the following procedure must be observed:

• The student must obtain an Absence Request Form from the Student Life Office.
• The Absence Request Form must be completed by the student's parents, teachers, coaches and advocate and by the College Counselor.
• The request must then be approved by the Dean of Students.
• This procedure must be completed no fewer than two days prior to departure from campus.

A total of five days of excused absences will be granted over the span of a student's junior and senior years.

Field Trips
Field trips, athletic contests and special events approved by the Dean of Students are excusable absences and will not count toward the semester absence policy as defined above. Teachers are informed of the student's absence through an approved roster of the event. Students are responsible for all work missed.

Religious Holidays
Religious holidays are considered excused absences and will not count toward the semester absence policy. The student's parents must inform the School by calling the Attendance Line at 650.330.2001 ext. 2300 or by emailing Liz Segura at liz.segura@menloschool.org.

Excused Absence - Partial Day
Illness
A student who becomes ill during the school day must alert his or her classroom teacher and then report to the Health Office located in Room 501 on the Middle School Arrillaga Family Campus. If the School Nurse is unavailable, the student should report to the Student Life Office located in the Student Center on the bottom floor of Stent Hall. Students may not leave campus without signing out with either the School Nurse or the Student Life Office.

*Please see the All School section for Guidelines for Absences due to Illness

Appointments
Written excuses for early dismissal for an appointment must be presented to the Student Life Office by 8:00 am on the date of the request. The excuse must include the type of appointment and date and time of dismissal.

College Representative Meetings
When college representatives visit the campus, students are encouraged to meet with them during their free time, if possible. If a student does not have free time during a representative's visit, the student must ask his or her teacher, at least one day in advance, for permission to miss the class. The teacher may require the student to remain in class but may allow the student to leave class a few minutes early to meet the representative. Junior students must also bring a note from their parents stating that their child may miss a class in order to attend a specific college meeting. Seniors are not required to provide such a note. Juniors may not miss more than two classes in any one subject, and they must not miss more than a total of five classes. To assist in planning ahead, the College Counselors provide a calendar, updated weekly, of upcoming visits by representatives.

Unexcused Absence
A student who is absent from a class or other School obligation for reasons other than illness, excused absence or early dismissal will be considered unexcused. The Assistant to the Dean of Students will notify a student if he or she has been recorded as unexcused from any class via their student webmail account. The student will then have 48 hours to clear the absence by having a parent or guardian contact the Assistant to the Dean of Students. If the unexcused absence is not cleared within this 48-hour period, the Dean of Students will meet with the student and notify the student's parents and advocate. After this time, the unexcused absence will become part of the student's permanent attendance record. Chronic unexcused absences are considered a serious discipline problem and may result in probation or dismissal from the School.

Tardiness
Students are expected to arrive promptly for class. Each teacher establishes a classroom policy regarding tardiness and communicates the policy to students at the start of each semester. If a student is chronically late to class, the teacher will inform the Dean of Students, who will discuss the issue with the student and contact the student's parents. If the problem persists, further disciplinary action will occur. A student who is late to school must report to the Student Life Office prior to attending class.

 

Upper School General Information

Driving Privileges
Driving at Menlo is considered a privilege, not a right. Students are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Due to limited parking on the campus, driving privileges are extended to 11th and 12th grade students only. Students must park only in the lot assigned.
• Students must register their vehicle with the Student Life Office. Students are expected to display a parking decal on their vehicle at all times. Vehicles without parking decals will not be admitted into the parking lot.
• All student vehicles must be parked in a designated student parking lot. All cars must be parked entirely within a space. Unregistered or illegally parked vehicles will be ticketed and may be towed.
• To enforce handicapped parking laws, the School parking lots are patrolled by the Atherton Police Department. Tickets will be issued and/or towing will be enforced by the APD.
• Cars parked in posted fire lanes or handicapped spaces are also subject to a fine and immediate towing by APD.
• Driving motor vehicles on School walkways is prohibited. Violators are subject to a fine and removal of driving privileges.
• Parking and registration fines are paid at the Student Life Office.
• Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit on campus is 10 mph.

Lockers
Each student is entitled to a book locker and an athletic locker. At the start of the school year, students select a locker in which to keep books and personal belongings. Lockers are selected on a first come, first served basis. Book locker numbers must be registered with the Student Life Office.

Freshmen will be assigned a lock and locker during Freshman Orientation. If a lock is lost or broken, replacements may be purchased at the Bookstore. Only school-issued locks may be used on school lockers.

Athletes may only obtain an athletic locker for the duration of the sports season during which they are actively participating. Locker numbers must be registered with the Athletic Department.

Please be aware that the School reserves the right to inspect any student locker at any time and for any reason.

Student Webmail Accounts & Mailboxes
Each student is assigned a webmail account that will act as the primary communication between the School and the student. Students are strongly encouraged to check their webmail account daily.

In addition, each student will be assigned a student mailbox located in the Student Center.

As with lockers and other facilities, the School reserves the right to access student webmail accounts and mailboxes at any time for any reason.

 

Safety and Emergency Information

The personal safety of Menlo students is of paramount concern. Students are expected to follow all safety directions and guidelines communicated by teachers, coaches and administrators.

Weapons of any kind, including pepper spray or mace, are strictly prohibited on School grounds. If a student or parent becomes aware of a suspicious situation or any possible or actual threat, whatever the nature or source, the matter should be reported immediately to School Security, the Head of School or another administrator, a faculty member, or—if appropriate—directly to the police. Students, in particular, are directed not to personally confront a dangerous person or incident on campus but rather to take all appropriate steps to ensure their own safety.

No motorized vehicles are allowed in either courtyard areas or on the ramps, hallways or stairs. Students are strongly encouraged to wear protective helmets and other safety gear while riding on wheeled vehicles to and from school. Students are not allowed to walk/balance on railings or drop any object from one floor to the next.

Emergency Preparedness
Menlo School mirrors the city, county and state emergency structure through the SEMS (Standard Emergency Management System). The plans are reviewed regularly by these organizations to ensure that Menlo School policies are in compliance with local, county and state agencies. An essential part of this plan is to familiarize students and staff with procedures related to all emergency situations through a series of drills and simulations.

 

Emergency Procedures

Medical/Accident

• Using a school phone, press the red EMERGENCY button to connect to Security (650.799.4993), who will contact the appropriate personnel. Give your exact location on campus and give a concise account of what happened.
• If Security is unreachable and you must call outside for emergency help from a campus phone, remember to dial 9 first and then dial 911.
• When giving directions to 911, be specific about your location on the campus. Remember to state that Menlo School is located in Atherton and the entrance is at 50 Valparaiso Avenue.

Earthquake/Disaster

Students and Staff:
After an earthquake or other disaster, all students and faculty should evacuate all buildings. Upper School students should group by graduating class in the designated Upper School assembly point: the grass oval. Middle School students should proceed to the Middle School Quad, the emergency assembly point for the Middle School, and line up by class. Faculty members and/or adult leaders will take roll for each class. Students will be expected to remain on the grass and be quiet so that they can hear instructions. If the disaster does not cause serious damage, students will remain at school until the regular dismissal time.

Family Information:
If there is an emergency, the School will communicate with parents via email and/or the telephone notification system. If the disaster is severe such that there is damage to buildings, communication systems and power, students will be evacuated and cared for on-site at Menlo School until a parent or previously designated representative on file with the School comes to pick up the student.

In order to maintain accurate records about the release of each student, please observe the following guidelines:

DO NOT TRY TO CALL THE SCHOOL. If telephone lines are working, they will be needed for emergency communication.

When it is safe to do so, come to the main entrance to the School, located at 50 Valparaiso Avenue. There will be School personnel posted to direct you to your student.

You or your previously designated representative on file with the School will need a photo ID for your student to be released to you.

As a General Precaution:
Stay away from bookshelves, windows and heavy objects that might fall. Identify nearby fire extinguishers.

Know all possible EXITS from each room. Know the location of the EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY POINT, which is the Middle School Quad for Middle School students and the grass Oval for Upper School students.

During an Earthquake:
If inside, stay inside. Take cover under a desk or table or brace yourself in a doorway. Stay away from windows, mirrors and chimneys. Do not use elevators.

If outside, stay outside. Move to an open space away from buildings, power lines, poles, trees and plate glass windows.

If driving, pull to the side and stop, away from overpasses, buildings and power lines.

After an Earthquake:

• Wear shoes to avoid injuries from broken glass and debris.
• Evacuate the building and go directly to the EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY POINT.
• Help the injured, elderly and disabled to evacuate.
• Do not remove the seriously injured unless they are in danger of further injury.
• Be alert to aftershocks, which may occur from a few minutes to a few hours after the main quake.
• Do not light a match or turn on a light switch.
• Leave the phone lines open for disaster services.

In Case of Fire

• Leave the room, making sure all persons are out, and close the door behind you (DO NOT LOCK THE DOOR).
• If trapped in a smoke-filled room or space, stay low, crawl to the nearest exit and cover your nose and mouth with a damp cloth.
• Activate the nearest fire alarm box.
• If you are familiar with fire extinguisher usage, control the fire until help arrives.
• If your clothes catch fire, DO NOT RUN. Smother the flames by rolling on the ground.
• Know the location of the EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY POINT, which is the Quad in the Middle School for Middle School students and the grass oval for Upper School students.

A full description of the Menlo School Emergency Plan is available in the Dean of Students' office located in the Upper School.